Bill Gates Meets Odisha CM to Discuss Tech-Driven Farmer Empowerment
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, met with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence to discuss initiatives aimed at empowering farmers through technology. During his visit, Gates engaged in discussions with the chief minister regarding several initiatives undertaken by the state government. "Pleasure meeting @Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Mr @BillGates. Had a wonderful discussion on our technology-driven farmer empowerment initiatives several welfare initiatives like #JagaMission, #MissionShakti, #OdishaSchoolTransformation, #BSKY and healthcare transformation", Patnaik said on X.
He commended the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its support in fostering innovation to provide inclusive benefits to the people. "Thanked him for his praise for Odisha's welfare initiatives and success in different sectors through #5T transformative governance", he added. Gates toured a slum in Bhubaneswar and engaged with its inhabitants. Accompanied by state government officials, he visited the Biju Adarsh Colony within the Maa Mangla Basti area. In addition to inquiring about the welfare of the slum dwellers, Gates also interacted with members of women's self-help groups (SHGs).
State Development Commissioner Anu Garg said, "We have shown him that the slum dwellers have got land rights, tap water connections, toilets and power supply. He expressed happiness over the transformation of the slum area into a model colony". According to G Mathi Vathanan, the Secretary of Urban Development for the state, Gates conversed with recipients of various government welfare schemes. A resident of the colony mentioned that the philanthropist engaged with them, inquiring about the impact of the schemes on their lifestyle. "He asked us about how we were living earlier and our present status", she said.
Subsequently, he toured Krushi Bhawan, which serves as the headquarters of the state's agriculture and farmers' empowerment department. Since 2017, the state has collaborated with the Foundation to advance common objectives related to enhancing farmers' income, ensuring nutrition security, and building climate resilience in the region. "This partnership has allowed the state to emerge as a leader in digital public infrastructure, with the government launching key farmer-centric systems including the Krushak Odisha database, GO-SUGAM portal, and Ama Krushi extension system", a senior official said.
Benefitting from strategic assistance provided by the Foundation, the government has achieved successful outcomes in pilot projects related to crop diversification, such as the Maize Mandi and agriculture production cluster (APC) initiatives, as highlighted by Arabinda Kumar Padhee, the principal secretary of the agriculture and farmers' empowerment department. These endeavors have now been expanded statewide. Additionally, discussions centered around a forward-thinking plan for digital agriculture in Odisha, with an emphasis on the state becoming a pioneer in implementing comprehensive technology solutions across agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors.
Gates engaged with two accomplished female farmers in the state who have boosted their earnings through the digital public infrastructure established by the department. Padhee provided a summary of the achievements of the Odisha Millets Mission, highlighting its role in enhancing the livelihoods of tribal communities within the state.
